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Waterbury Hospital earns national accreditation for rectal cancer program

Waterbury Hospital, one of ECPC’s hospital partners, has attained national accreditation from the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) – becoming only the third hospital in Connecticut to achieve this distinction.

Elizabeth Marie Rinehart, MD, FCAP, an ECPC pathologist and Chair and Medical Director of Waterbury Hospital’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, was part of the team that worked toward this accreditation.

As a participant of the NAPRC, Waterbury Hospital has earned distinction as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner – which means the hospital is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in surgical care.

“Earning this accreditation means we provide some of the best care in the country to rectal cancer patients. Each case is rigorously reviewed by the multidisciplinary team to ensure the care plan for
each patient is the best course of action and one that can deliver the best results,” said John Zhang, MD, a colorectal surgeon. “This approach delivers personalized, patient centered care and is the first and major step towards Waterbury Hospital becoming a world class digestive disease center.”

ECPC sponsors Holes for Hope Golf Tournament

MANCHESTER — ECPC was a proud Platinum Sponsor of this year’s Holes for Hope Golf Tournament, in partnership with ECHN and the Rotary Club of Manchester.

The June 19 event benefited a wide range of local nonprofits and community-based groups that support local youth, families and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

ECPC is a strong support of community events that help support of the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

Beneficiaries of this year’s Holes for Hope event included:

  • The Connecticut Child Guidance Clinic
  • Rebuilding Together Manchester
  • Midwest Food Bank
  • Journey Found
  • Manchester Knights

The ECPC clinical team also had two participants in the tournament, including Dr. Kevin Pelland and Pathologists’ Assistant James Boley (pictured).

Dr. Rinehart meets with federal lawmakers over pathology protections

WASHINGTON, DC — Elizabeth Marie Rinehart, MD, recently met with federal lawmakers to advocate for protections for pathology services. Rinehart, a long-time pathologist with ECPC, is also a delegate for the College of American Pathologists (CAP) House of Delegates.

On April 16, Rinehart and CAP members met with lawmakers to discuss how Congress can mitigate Medicare payment cuts to physicians, set limits on future clinical laboratory fee cuts, and increase the medical workforce to address current shortages.

Rinehart met with the Connecticut delegation in Congress, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. John Larson, and Rep. Jim Hines.

These align with key CAP priorities that are vital to pathology, including:

The advocacy meetings coincided with CAP’s annual Hill Day and the 2024 Pathologists Leadershp Summit.

Dr. Rinehart has held multiple committee assignments within the College of American Pathologists. She was included in The Pathologist magazine’s 2016 Power List of inspiring leaders, researchers and educators. The Power List highlights pathologists with exceptional and influential achievements.

ECPC Vice President honored with Excellence Award

MANCHESTER — Monica Srodon, MD, FCAP, has been awarded the Hospital-based Physician of Excellence Award at Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN). Dr. Srodon’s received her award among other 2024 Milestone Award recipients at the John. A. Dequattro Cancer Center. The honor recognizes her unwavering commitment to excellent patient care.

Dr. Srodon, Vice President and Secretary of ECPC, is also co-medical director of the cancer program, which has been recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer. Only 14 percent of hospitals nationwide receive this award.

ECPC celebrates three team births

Our team at ECPC welcomes three new babies to our practice family, with two girls and a boy arriving at the end of 2023.

We wish to congratulate the following team members and their families:

  • Dr. Kevin Pelland’s daughter Flora Marie was born on Sept. 1 at 7:35 a.m., weighing 20.5 inches and weighing 7 lbs 2 oz. Flora joins her big brother Jameson and proud parents Kevin and Lilly.
  • Dr. Cindy Wepy and her husband James welcomed a baby boy in December.
  • Pathologists’ Assistant James Boley welcomes his daughter Norah Marie, born on Nov. 20 at ECPC’s own Manchester Memorial Hospital, weighing 7 lbs 9 oz. Norah joins her big brother Carter and proud parents James and Danielle.

Congrats to James and Drs. Pelland and Wepy on their growing families.

ECPC supports new community health program

ECPC is a proud supporter of the inaugural Starling Physicians Neighborhood Engagement Support Team (NEST), a new program dedicated to preventive health screenings, health literacy and cancer support for underserved communities in Connecticut.

Several members of the ECPC pathology team attended this year’s Summit Health Cares Gala & Auction, which dedicated all event proceeds to NEST programming, including:

  • Access to health care screenings
  • Education for neighbors in need
  • Comfort for patients and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment

The gala raised money through ticket sales, donations, a live and silent auction and raffle tickets. The event was attended by Drs. Christina Luffman, Aneta Rafalowski and Christopher Wallace.

The NEST initiative is closely aligned with ECPC’s vision for how hospitals, health systems and providers can improve health outcomes in the communities in which they serve. Making an impact in the communities where our patients live is a core part of our practice’s mission and values.

ECPC asks community to support critical blood drive

MANCHESTER — Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants is asking the community to help address a critically low blood supply. The Manchester Road Race has teamed up with the Red Cross to host the Ray Crothers Blood Drive at Manchester High School on Friday, Nov. 24 – the day after Thanksgiving.

Ray Crothers Blood Drive

Friday, Nov. 24 from 8:30-3:30 p.m.
Manchester High School
134 Middle Turnpike

Donated blood makes a difference in a wide number of life-saving situations. It saves lives when people have suffered a traumatic injury, undergo surgery and during childbirth. It helps people with blood disorders, cancer and other critical illnesses.

All donors will receive free refreshments and race T-shirts.

ECPC is a proud sponsor of the Manchester Road Race, which is in its 87th year. In past years, the blood donated at the Ray Crothers Blood Drive, held every year the day after the race, has benefited over 1,000 patients in need of blood, plasma and platelets. In recent years, the drive has become one of the largest single-day blood collection efforts in Connecticut.

Walk-in donors are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. You can register online at www.manchesterroadrace.com.

At ECPC, we view ourselves as closely connected to the spectrum of hospitals, cancer centers, physician laboratories and patients we serve. With every specimen we examine, we provide a core service that directly affects the health outcomes in the communities in which we practice. (Read more about ECPC’s history.)

ECPC welcomes Mary Green, MD, MSPH

MANCHESTER — ECPC continues to grow its multidisciplinary team of board-certified pathologists with the addition of Mary Green, MD, MSPH.

Dr. Green is fellowship-trained in her subspecialties. She brings diverse a background with an advanced degree in public health and health policy, in addition to her medical degree.

Dr. Green completed her residency and fellowship training in cytopathology at Wake Forest Baptist Health. She received her medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and her Master’s of Public Health from Tulane University.

ECPC provides unparalleled service to our health care partners across southern New England, including community hospitals, endoscopy centers and physician office laboratories. With an experienced team of 18 board-certified pathologists, we bring over 150 years of combined subspecialty training and clinical experience to the diagnostic pathology environment.

Mary Green, MD, MSPH, FCAP

Dr. Mary Green is board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. She completed her residency and fellowship training in cytopathology at Wake Forest Baptist Health. Read her full bio.

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Megan!

2023 Scholarship winners announced

MANCHESTER — ECPC celebrated the achievements of seven outstanding local graduating seniors with our 2023 ECPC Scholarship awards.

Each year, ECPC selects one senior each from more than a half dozen local high schools in the communities we serve. Each scholarship award is $2,500 and can be used toward the college of the student’s choice. All recipients plan to pursue a degree in a health-related field, which may include nursing, medicine, healthcare administration and other related fields.

At ECPC, we view ourselves as being closely connected to the communities where we practice. We recognize that the health of our community includes the pursuit of constant growth through education.

We are proud of this year’s recipients and wish them the best of luck as they prepare for college in the fall. Please join us in recognizing these local students:

High Schools in Waterbury, CT:

  • Reagan Im from Wilby High School 
  • Alyssa Jhingree from Waterbury Career Academy
  • Aaleya McCulloch from John F. Kennedy High School
  • Genesis Martinez from Crosby High School

Rockville High School in Vernon, CT:

  • Alexis Real 

Manchester High School in Manchester, CT:

  • Denise Pospescu

Holyoke High School in Holyoke, MA:

  • Willie Lopez Morales

ECPC sponsors 86th Manchester Road Race

MANCHESTER — Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants is proud to be a continued sponsor of the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022. This is the 86th year for the race and the number of registered runners is well over 10,000. The road race kicks off at 10 a.m. and runners will follow a 4.748-mile loop course, starting on Main Street in Manchester, in front of St. James Church. 

For more information about this year’s race, please visit www.manchesterroadrace.com.

In addition to ECPC’s sponsorship of the Manchester Road Race, we are also a financial supporter of the “Ray Crothers Blood Drive” which will take place on Friday, November 25th, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Manchester High School. Last year, the blood drive collected 335 pints of blood, which benefited 1005 patients in need of blood, plasma, and platelets. The local drive has in recent years become one of the largest single-day blood collection efforts in Connecticut, and 7,522 pints of blood have been donated at it since it began.

Walk-in donors are welcome. Appointments, which are encouraged, can be made by calling 1-800-733-2767, or on-line at the Red Cross website.

At ECPC, we view ourselves as closely connected to the spectrum of hospitals, cancer centers, physician laboratories and patients we serve. With every specimen we examine, we provide a core service that directly affects the health outcomes in the communities in which we practice. (Read more about ECPC’s history.)